Voting in Delaware



The Details





Voting is an important civic duty. Whether you are new to Delaware, or just new to voting, here is what you need to know about registering to vote, finding your polling place, voting absentee, finding your local elected officials, reporting election complaints and more.

Many Delawareans register to vote at the DMV when they are getting their license, but you can always register online, by mail, or in person. Just take note of upcoming deadlines so you can register in time before the next election. Make sure you exercise your right to vote!



Vote By Absentee Ballot



Applying for an Absentee Ballot

The Department of Elections offers various ways to apply for an absentee ballot: mail, email, fax, or online.

Online:

  1. Go to https://ivote.de.gov/ and enter your identification information.
  2. Click on "Request an Absentee Ballot".
  3. Accept the terms of service by clicking "Next".
  4. On the "Absentee Reason" check either "Sick" or "Temporarily or Permanently Physically Disabled", then choose if you'd like to receive your ballot via mail, fax, or email.
  5. Continue through step 3 - 7.
  6. You're done. The Department of Elections will process your request then send you an absentee ballot via your selected method.

Mail, fax, or email:

Either using the paper application or downloading the form Request for an Absentee Ballot for Primary, General and/or Special Elections

  1. Answer the voter information questions
  2. Under "Select the reason you are voting by absentee ballot" choose "(3) I am sick, or temporarily or permanently physically disabled."
  3. Email, mail or fax the completed form to the Elections office in your county. Contact information for each county is located here
  4. You're done. The Department of Elections will process your request then send you an absentee ballot via your selected method.

Review your registration, request an absentee ballot, or check the status of your absentee ballot at ivote.de.gov

 

A graphic with an envelope and vote representing voting absentee


At the Polls


Find Your Polling Place

There are three ways to find your polling place

  • The building listed on your polling place card is your polling place.
  • Use this tool to find your polling place.
  • View the Department of Elections locations to find your polling place contact number for your county.

Voting Hours

Polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. for general, special, and primary elections.


A graphic of a an ID with an alert that says you are not required to present an ID to vote


Identification

You are not required to show identification to vote. Poll workers will ask you to present an ID to speed up the check-in process. If you do not show ID, you must fill out a form before you can vote.

Examples of acceptable IDs:

  • Delaware Driver’s License
  • Delaware Identification Card
  • U.S. Passport
  • Signed Polling Place card
  • Signed Social Security card
  • Signed vehicle registration
  • Signed credit card with photo

Electioneering

Delaware voting code prohibits campaigning within 50 feet of any polling place entrance that voters use. This includes supporting or opposing a candidate, a political party, or any political issue in any way (i.e. wearing apparel, hats, buttons, etc. chanting, holding signs).


How to Use the Voting Machine

Since May 14, 2019, Delaware has voted on the ExpressVote XL. Watch a demonstration of the ExpressVote XL voting machine in this video.


Provisional Ballot

What is a provisional ballot?

A provisional ballot may be used when a voter is attempting to vote in the Election District in which the voter is registered, but the voter's name does not appear on the poll list. Provisional Ballots are only used in elections for Federal offices, such as President, Vice President, Senate, and Representative in Congress. Provisional Ballots cannot be used for offices in local elections.


Eligibility Requirements

To qualify for use of a Provisional Ballot, the voter must be attempting to vote in the Election District in which they are registered to vote and be eligible to vote in Federal Elections.


How to vote with a Provisional Ballot
  • To be permitted to vote with a Provisional Ballot, you must:
  • Provide identification. Permitted forms of identification include current:
    • Valid Photo ID
    • Copy of utility bill
    • Bank statement
    • Government check, paycheck, or other government document that displays your address
  • Sign an affidavit to confirm that you are registered to vote in that election district and in that Federal election.

How Provisional Ballots are Tallied
  • On the day following the election, Department of Elections staff in each county office review the provisional ballots cast to determine which Provisional Ballots are valid.
  • Within 30 days, information about which Provisional Ballots were not counted and the reasons why will be made available to the public by the State Election Commissioner.

Voters With Disabilities

Delaware is committed to providing its citizens with:

  • Accessible polling places
  • Accessible voting machines
  • Assistance when requested

Read the Voting in Delaware Guide for Citizens with Disabilities.

Department of Elections


New Castle County Office

Address:
Carvel State Office Building
820 North French St Suite 400
Wilmington DE 19801
Phone:
(302) 577-3464
Fax:
(302) 577-6545
Email:
NCC General Information
NCC Absentee Voting
NCC Working at the Polls

Kent County Office

Address:
100 Enterprise Pl Ste 5
Dover DE 19904
Phone:
(302) 739-4498
Fax:
(302) 739-4515
Email:
KC General Information
KC Absentee Voting

Sussex County Office

Address:
119 N. Race St
P.O. Box 457
Georgetown DE 19947
Phone:
(302) 856-5367
Fax:
(302) 856-5082
Email:
SC General Information
SC Absentee Voting

State Election Commissioner

Address:
Anthony J. Albence
905 S. Governors Ave Ste 170
Dover DE 19904
Phone:
(302) 739-4277
Fax:
(302) 739-6794
Email:
General Information


A graphic of a building and magnify glass that says find your polling place at ivote.de.gov


Elected Officials


Use this tool to find your State Representative or State Senator.


National Elected Officials

Senator Thomas R. Carper
Senator Christopher A. Coons

Representative Lisa Blunt-Rochester


State Elected Officials

Governor John Carney
Lieutenant Governor Bethany Hall-Long
Senators
Representatives

Auditor of Accounts Kathleen McGuiness
Attorney General Kathy Jennings
Insurance Commissioner Trinidad Navarro
State Treasurer Colleen C. Davis


Report Election Complaints


If you encountered an issue regarding any topic covered by Title III of the Help America Vote Act of 2002 you may issue a formal complaint.

The complaint must be submitted to the Office of State Election Commissioner or your county Department of Election. The complaint must be:

  • In writing
  • Notarized
  • Signed and sworn by the voter filing the complaint
  • You may also request a hearing regarding the complaint

You will be notified when your complaint is received. The State Election Commissioner will assign someone to investigate the issue. Any violations found will be reported to the State Election Commissioner along with a recommended course of action to correct the violation. If no violations are discovered, the complaint will be dismissed.

For more information on filing a complaint, visit Delaware's Elections website.

Report Voter Intimidation


The Delaware Department of Justice, state and local law enforcement, and the Department of Elections strictly enforces Delaware’s voter intimidation laws in order to ensure that Delawareans are able to vote safely, fairly, and peacefully.

Voters who are concerned about a perceived threat to their safety should call 911; voters who are concerned about any other problem can contact the Department of Elections’ voter hotline at (302) 739-4277.

The DOJ’s Division of Civil Rights and Public Trust (DCRPT) has provided law enforcement with written guidance listing possible Title 11 and Title 15 offenses that could be encountered on Election Day. DOJ inspectors in all three counties will staff the hotline for law enforcement to contact in the event of illegal activity


A graphic with a clipboard with results and a ribbon representing results


Results and Statistics


Results and Statistics for the most recent election can be found on the Elections website.

For more information about voting in Delaware visit the Department of Elections website.



Voter Registration


Register to Vote

To register to vote in Delaware, you can register:

Online

By Mail:

In Person (various locations):

You can register to vote:

  • Anytime except after the fourth Saturday before a Primary or General Election through the day of the election.
  • At least 10 days prior to a Special Election

A graphic representing all the ways you can register to vote


Update Your Voter Record

You can update your voter registration through the Voter Portal.

You can update your voter record:

  • Any time before an election
  • At your polling place on Election Day

You can change your political party affiliation:

  • Before a primary election
    • Anytime except from the last Saturday in May until the date of the Primary Election
  • Before a Presidential Primary
    • Anytime except from the 59th day before the Presidential Primary through the date of the Election.

Cancel a Voter Registration


For yourself:

Submit this online request.

OR

Complete this form and submit it to the Department of Elections in your county.


For a close relative who has passed away or moved out of state:

Submit this online request.

OR

Complete this form and submit it to the Department of Elections in your county.

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